OTTAWA - The art and design of several students will be used to help save lives along Canada’s railways, one of many initiatives by Direction 2006.
The winners of the First Nations’ Direction 2006 railway safety poster contest are: in the grade seven to nine category, Manuwella M., in grade seven at Martin McKay Memorial School in Sachigo Lake, ON, and in the grade four to six category, Kellye H., a grade six student at Queen of Peace Middle School in Happy Valley, NL. As first-prize winners each student will be awarded $300. These artists also won a cash prize of $200 for their school, and another $100 for their teachers.
Sgt. Bill Law, contest coordinator and director of the CPR Police community services unit says the contest is part of the Direction 2006 strategy to reduce the number of motorists and pedestrians killed and injured along Canada’s railways.
“These drawings will be used as posters to promote train safety,” says Sgt. Law, “and will hopefully get safety messages across to kids the same age as the artists. The simple, clear messages promote caution around tracks and trains.”
Manuwella’s drawing shows two pre-teens standing on a train track, startled by the glare of the train lights coming at them. It reads: “Be Smart. Look. Listen. Live.” Kellye drew a girl with her dog, waiting in the rain for a train to pass. The girl is observing the “ting ting ting” and the flashing lights of the warning devices. Her thought bubble reads, “Uh-oh, the light is flashing! I better wait to cross.”
Coming in second place were: grade nine Whitney G., from Waycobah First Nations Secondary School in Whycocomagh, NS, and grade six Holly N., from Pine Creek School, Camperville, MB. They took home a cash prize of $200 each.
Grade seven Candi A. from Sioux Valley School in Griswold, MB, and grade four Bobbi M. from La Verendrye School, Portage la Prairie, MB are the third place winners.
Last year 72 people were killed and another 72 were seriously injured along tracks in Canada.
Honorable mentions in the grade seven to nine category are: Bianca I., Sioux Valley School, Griswold, MB, and Lore C., Pelican Rapids School, Pelican Rapids, MB. In the grade four to six category: Shawnee B., Oliver M. Smith-Kawenniio Elementary School, Ohsweken, ON, Johnie F., Mimiw Sakahikan School, Mameo Beach, AB, and Shasta H., Oliver M. Smith-Kawenniio Elementary School, Ohsweken, ON.